Phils place Wells on DL due to vision complications'

NEW YORK — Casper Wells is having the type of season that most players wish could be made to disappear in a blink of an eye.

It turns out the struggling outfielder’s fruitless blinking might explain why he has the lowest batting average this season of any position player in baseball with at least 100 plate appearances. His .128 average in 101 plate appearances is the 17th lowest of any position player with that many PAs since integration in 1947.

Wells was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday for what was described as “vision complications.” They seem to be related to a LASIK corrective procedure Wells had a year ago that have left him struggling with dry eyes and blurred vision.

“It finally got to the point where he didn’t feel right about that. He mentioned production and the betterment of the team and himself to see if he can get that fixed...I don’t think he’s really gotten to where he wants to be. He hasn’t had the problem solved, which is a little surprising.”

According to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., Wells will see a specialist at Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia Tuesday, although he has been to a few eye doctors during the course of the season. Wells, who was acquired off waivers from the White Sox earlier this month, has been with five different organizations this season, including four before April ended. He went 1-for-23 with eight strikeouts for the Phillies, and was the losing pitcher when he took the hill in the 18th inning of Saturday’s seven-hour epic against the Diamondbacks.

“You don’t know if he was struggling or not seeing the ball well,” Amaro said, “but obviously he was having those issues, so that could be part of it.”

Outfielder Domonic Brown was out of the starting lineup for a third straight game Monday, as he continues to deal with a sore right Achilles’ tendon. Brown did some pregame jogging and felt the discomfort almost immediately.

“Domonic is day to day, basically,” Sandberg said. “It felt better, but not quite (well enough).

“He’s headed in the right direction...It sounds like it’s just a day-to-day thing. He can pinch-hit.”

An MRI performed on his right elbow showed a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament — the ligament that, when damaged, is usually fixed with “Tommy John” replacement surgery that costs a pitcher a calendar year for recovery.

Harvey, who is 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA for the Mets this season, expected to investigate non-surgical options. Considering the timing of the injury, he has the leisure to do so, since even a quick move for surgery and an issue-free rehab would still cost him most of 2014.

Carlos Torres will start for the Mets in Harvey’s place Thursday.

NOTES: Padres starter Edinson Volquez cleared waivers and was released by the team early Monday morning, making the right-hander a free agent. The Phillies have been discussing the prospects of picking up the former Reds ace, who was the losing pitcher when Roy Halladay threw his no-hitter in the 2010 postseason. “We talked about him a little bit internally,” Amaro said. “Obviously he has had an interesting history. His recent history has been that he’s struggled.” While Volquez is 9-10 with a 6.10 ERA this season and has struggled as a starter for some time, he still has a live arm that could be of use in a bullpen. “He very well could be,” a relief asset, Amaro said. “He has a great arm.”...Former Phillies farmhand Travis d’Arnaud, who was traded to Toronto in the Halladay deal, made his fourth big-league start at catcher for the Mets Monday. New York acquired him from the Jays in the R.A. Dickey trade last winter.